Apparatus for applying labels to articles



u y 3 9 6 w. VON HOFE 2,756,890

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 IN V EN TOR. Y GEORGE 14 V0/V//0FE Y/Q/Y" AT T ORNE Y5 July 31, 1956 w. VON HOFE APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 Ill Ir 3 AL 1 G EEK Q Q rlTTORNEVS July 31, 1956 G. w. VON HOFE 2,756,890

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO ARTICLES Filed Oct. 15, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 650/26: )4. VON Hon:

HTTORNEYS United States Patent New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 15, 1952, Serial No. 314,801

17 Claims. (Cl. 216-9 This invention relates to mechanisms for applying labels to articles and is particularly concerned with mechanisms for applying labels provided with a coating of thermoactivtable adhesive material to the articles for which such labels were designed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanisms for activating such adhesive material on the labels and for applying the labels to the articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved labelling mechanisms capable of adhering labels of the indicated type to articles with a minimum of air pockets between the labels and the articles to which they are applied.

Other objects as well as the advantages of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is an elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral designates generally the base of the same. The base 10 is provided at one end with a pair of spaced standards 11, 11 and at its other end with a pair of spaced standards 12, 12. Pivotally supported by the standards 11, 11 is a label pressing device designated generally by the reference numeral 13. The standards 12, 12 pivotally supported a label applying device designated generally by the reference numeral 14. Mounted on the sides of the base 10 intermediate the standards 11 and 12 are devices 15 and 16 for supporting the article to be labeled.

The article supporting device 15 is composed of a pair of bearing brackets 17, 17 each pivotally mounted on an exterior side of the base 10 by means of a pin 18. The upper end of each bracket 17 is formed to receive a bearing unit 19 which is fixed in position on such bracket by means of a securing piece 20 and a bolt 21. The bearing units 19, 19 rotatably support the shaft 22 of a roller 23. Each bracket 17 is provided with an offset lower end 24 provided with a plurality of openings 25' arranged in spaced relation along an are about the axial center of the pin 18. Extending through one of the openings' 25 is the stem of a set screw 26 whose inner end is in threaded engagement with a tapped hole 27 provided in the side of the base 10. It will thus be seen that the brackets 17 may be adjustably shifted about their pins 18 to vary the position of the roller 23 from that shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings to a position beyond the dotted line position of such roller in such figure.

The article supporting device 16 is constructed exactly the same as the above described device 15 so that a detailed explanation of its construction is believed to be unnecessary. It is also believed to be evident that when the roller 23 of the device 15 and the roller 28 of the device 16 are in the full line positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings they will rotatably support an article A of relatively small diameter while when such device is adjusted to bring the rollers 23, 28 to the dotted line positions shown in such figure, the latter will securely support an article of relatively large diameter such as the bottle B indicated in dotted outline in Figs. 1 and 2. The shafts 22 and 29 on one side of the machine extend beyond the side of the base 10 and either of such shaft extentions may have connected thereto a crank 30 to make one of the rollers 23, 28 a driven roller to rotate the article supported by such rollers. The crank 30 is shown connected to the extension of shaft 29 in Fig. 2 of the drawings and is secured thereto by a set screw 31 Whose inner end engages a depression formed on such shaft extension.

The label pressing device 13 is composed of a bracket whose spaced arms 36, 36 are provided at their outer ends with hearing units 35, 35 through which extend the shanks of set screws 37, 37, the latter of which at their inner ends threadedly engage one set of aligned tap holes 38, 38 provided in the upper ends of the standards 11, 11 to pivotally connect the arms 36, 36 to such standards. It will be noted from Fig. 1 of the drawings that each standard 11 is provided with a plurality of sets of such holes 38 arranged in a vertical line to enable the pivotal axis of the bracket arms 36, 36 to be adjusted in a vertical direction depending upon the diameter of the article supported by the rollers 23 and 28. The outer ends of the bracket arms 36, 36 have offset portions 39, 39 which extend upwardly at substantially right angles to such arms. The outer ends of the portions 39, 39 carry stop pins 40, 40 which engage with the standards 11, 11 below the pivotal axis of the arms 36, 36 to limit the latters pivotal movement in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The inner ends of the bracket arms 36, 36 are connected by an integral cross bar 41 from which extend two arms 42, 42 provided with bearing units 43, 43. Rotatably supported by the bearing units 43, 43 is a shaft 44 to which is secured a roller 45 adapted to bear on the outer surface of the article as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. One end of shaft 44 extends for a substantial distance beyond an arm 42 and such extension thereof is utilized as a handle to lift the roller 45 from an article and to pivot the bracket arms 36, 36 about their pins 38, 38 to their retracted position where the stop pins 40, 40 thereof engage with the standards 11, 11. The cross bar 41 is provided with an extension 46 to which is connected one end a channeled arm 47 projecting forwardly in parallelism with the arms 42, 42 and slidably carrying a weight 48. By shifting the weight 48 on the arm 47 to change its leverage arm, the pressure of the roller 45 on the article may be varied. The size of the weight may be varied and the leverage arm 47 may be calibrated to obtain a predetermined pressure on the roller 45. Once the position of the weight 48 has been determined it is fixed to the arm 47 by a set screw or any other suitable means.

It is belived that it will be clear from the foregoing that when the label pressing device 13 is not in use it will be in a retracted position with the stop pins 40, 40 engaging the standards 11, 11 and the arms 36, 36 thereof raised to a substantially vertical postion so that the roller 45 is withdrawn to a position in which an article can be readily placed upon or removed from the supporting rollers 23, 28. This is accomplished by the operator grasping the extension of shaft 44 and exerting a lifting press urc oh the satire. When it is desired to rest the may be applied at this moment to deposit an edge porlollei' en the artiete siippoi't'e'd by the idll'ei's Z3, 23 the ti'fi of the label carried by the unit 53 iip'o'ri the ai'ti'cl'e. operator accomplishes this by grasping the extension of The plate 66 is provided with a projecting guide 69 against shaft 44- and lowering the arms 36, 3 6 about their pivotal which one edge of a label is placed to properly register axis as determined by the, set screws 37, 37 fqr an such label on the plate 66.

article er; relatively sinallrdianietei', the 3 ,7, are From the foregoing explanation of the parts, it is becloiihected ivith the lowermost set of holes 381 in the lieved it will be understood that the label pressing device staiidards 11 so mat the roller 45 rests oh he jrti'eieA, 13 and thelabel applyihigh'evi ee 1,4,.wi11 be in retracted poas shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, yv hil e sitions during the placing of an "article upon and the removv'vhenvthe article is of relatively large diarrieter, such as al ofan article from the article supporting rpllers and wi h em 31 way-h c h qi dtd t 2. e ut igth i aifi lsi f fifili' ll h t ii fi up ermost set of holes "38 so that the rolle1 45 rests on such as the article A, that the devices 1*} and 14 vgciuld such article in the manner indicated in dotted 'oIutlin'e overlapjn their advancernentto such article, the operation As revio sly hiehtteheh hejq gh its of the niabhlfi rs carried On in the renewing fashion. t 'a'rhi 41 so that the roller 45 will bear 15 The article A igplaced in proper relation on rollers 23 i i and 28 so that it is supported by both rollers. A label is deposited on the label carrying plate 66 While the de- 'n a sshown in Fig.1 of the Del that the adhesive coated ined fco'ntrolled heat of a temperature hel rss, ,Hpw ver, evehvvithailarger a'r 'le t fe jlevi l whic will speedily aha properly 'r ender such material m y ecoiiflq d to alower eetfef h esfleb in pen asl wsit qq n ra o nsra s e h d 5 1 where his desired that such device should engag'e 'tiie P h 'eV'l'ce 4 a c e w e, tes n as ar e. ri th' hreehet en s'q, the e he'so at th ir eggs g- 1 "6 t e a it ngs, ifi h q rbd's r. ti e cfidsare provided 'with grrje o ha iffg portion of the plate 66 brings such edge port on of 'th? stop pins 's5, s5;v'vhieh coact with he standards 12, 1'2 a el .intqnmlmm int c ta th h r below the al Lexi or the device j 14 to limit th the labelis engaged with the article the adhesive eehheepivotal t of sueh 'device in e clockwise direction, tig lg ts q atine Wi ,t l r may e i ed to d a as view n Fig, 1 f th fipayv'iflgs, aj idj i gbl {h the label off the plate 66, or the suction may be cut off device 14 to rest "in r'etrac'ted position as shown in such 40 at t hi s t im e or suitablev alv e rneans utilized to bloivftl'ie figure. Th outer fen'ds o'f the wer erhlsjso, are lalvelifito ofitrt th r e. he e ni r us y conn' te'djb'y a dr ss bar 56 to which is attaclie'd ftlije exglaiped, HQv lg llell {IS" )O I18S thef orvva'rd'edgeof the labe unit '53, secured to on hq 'oftfie f bii label "ehgeges vv'ith the article, the operator by turning 1 ah nid .5 byfl f hieh the de e i j he a stle s u te r 2? b' s l k $fi o hwflp it q lt bwnfin full hh'e in Fig', tie afpqsi- 45 7?" 'y' inrFie t eid r esf m' t n a A ihj'a c 'otihterclockwise direction to roll the ex round. If afste'adysuction is provided at the ge of V plate "66, the adhesive coririech h rfticleyvillsufiicient'to overd bl h 1. 9 i ihd Tlie froller '23 durifig the tuiriiing ates as fair "idler 'fo'ller. The detoits atres t pos ition'and thej d'ejrfi a es'fl el h d fi 4 5 article. Ksthe'operatorpontinues 'histurningot'crank 30 the Mvyei ht d r iierfit'sjwin hen he lab elpntothe article, mp'le ting the lahelingoperation The device I; is affected, the lalieled articl 'efAfrrnoved and an artic le "A to "be labeled deposited "on the rollers 23 6L2 Inserted in another assa'geway 1s a etel; Having "a lcyliiidr call'y s' ed 0' t v y wl t i t m e at e j iIfi i' 1 5 may. Th .l t' ml f the h o t s, lo ely n tioi the block 59 andis mainta ned in by-a spring clip rndunted on one end of l fie n' with eed 6. e l l islthe n m 5 i i m PP' P l k. Pi '1 "of the 'drawings isfa label carr'yiri structed "a ina nnerjsubstantia lly si rni carrying'plate'dis'clos'ed in Fig. 39f co A tieh serial Ne. 292,298 filed by yet; er r 1952, how Patiit 2,723,775 "issued 'Nhveih T r .w e swe n the te 6. passageivay67 forrn'ed'in thejblock 59and hF fl l fi i rdt'l b ff r s pp ye h h suitable valverrieahs so 'that a'predeterrmned suction is effected at the label "supporting s" 66 While inth'e position "shown ingPfi'gCl the l'abellin'g 'ilni't arrives 'atj'its'lahel d I asintiicated in dottedoutl'nein Fig. 'l jof the dra rig er irhei t gie iete ghehes e heme d loiltline in figs land 2 of thefd ravvwill be almost immediately pressed into position-by the Weighted roller 45. In other words, the label will' be progressively pressed directly into'proper adhesive contact with the surface of the bottle B as it is being with drawn from the heated label unit 58. This method of applying the label to the article is more efilcient than the previously described method because it accomplishes the labeling of the article in one operation and in a substantially shorter period of time. It also possesses the advantage that it practically eliminates any possibility of air pockets forming between the label and the article due to the progressive pressing action exerted by the weighted roller 45 close to the initial engagement of each portion of the label with the article. The device is also readily adaptable to the labeling of flat boards or boxes in the manner aforesaid. As indicated in dotted outline in Fig. l of the drawings, the flat board or box will also rest on the-rollers 23 and 28 and will pass out the side of the machine between the standards 11 as the label is being applied.

Instead of pressing the label upon the bottle as it is being adhered to the latter by means of a roller which is weighted in the manner hereinabove described, this may be accomplished by a roller 45 which is pressed down upon the article by adjustable spring means as will be well understood by the art and hereinafter described or by means of an endless belt constructed and arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and cooperating with a plate 75 in the manner disclosed in my Patent No, 2,524,945, dated October 10, 1950. In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the standards 12, 12' be disposed horizontally instead of vertically as in the previously described construction so that the device 14' is pivotally moved in a horizontal instead of a vertical direction and that the device 14' be moved into operative position by means of the handle 57' until the outer end of the label carrying plate 66' and the label guide 69' of the label applying unit 58 come into engagement with a shelf 76 mounted on the standards 12', 12 in any suitable fashion. The length of the shelf 76 is such that with the unit 58' engaging the same, the inner end portion of the label carrying plate 66' and consequently the end portion of a label C covering such plate portion will project beyond the inner end of the shelf in the illustrated position of the parts as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Thus as the articles B to be labelled carried by the continuously moving conveyor 77 pass beyond the inner end of the shelf 76 and alongside the projecting portion of the unit 58' they are in a position with respect to the projecting portions of the labels C on such unit to receive the same. The air supply in this embodiment of the invention is controlled by a suitable valve means capable of cutting oil the suction holding the label to the carrying plate 66 and delivering to such plate at the moment when the article is opposite the projecting portion of plate 66' a blast of air capable of moving the projecting portion of label C into engagement with the article B as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. As the article B continues its movement past the label unit 58', the label will be drawn from such unit and assume a trailing position with respect to the article until the latter is moved between the belt 45' and plate 75 by the conveyor 77. This latter will be accomplished before the label has been completely withdrawn from between the unit 58' and the shelf 76 due to the closeness of such unit to the entry end of the belt 45' as can readily be observed from Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this connection, it is preferred in accordance with the present invention that the discharge end of the label unit be as close as possible to the entry end of the belt 45 so that the latter can perform its function immediately as the portions of a label are being applied to an article. .When the article enters between the two members 45 and 75 it is rolled along the plate 75 by the belt 45 to progressively press the label firmlyinto adhesive connection with the particular article.

There may be associated with the belt 45 'a plurality of suitably constructed spring-actuated devices of known construction to cause the belt to press the label on the article during the completion of the labelling operation. As indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings such devices may be mounted on a stationary beam 78 and include belt engaging rollers 79 mounted on rock arms 80 attached to rock shafts which are journalled in bearing sleeves 81. Coiled springs attached to the sleeves 81 and to collars on the rock shafts in a manner well known in the art maintain the rollers 79 under pressure against the inner surface of the strand of the belt which engages the articles.

It will also be understood that the labelling and pressing devices may be combined into a single unit as shown in Fig, 4 of the drawings. This embodiment of the invention, like the construction of Fig. 3, is also provided with a continuously moving article conveyor 85, a plate 86 and a continuous belt 87. Adjustably secured to one side of the belt or conveyor mechanism in any suitable manner, as by the perforated standard or arm 84, is a bracket 88 to which is connected a labelling device 89 and a bearing 90 for pivotally supporting a spring impressed arm or lever 91 provided on its outer end with a roller 92. The lever 91 is normally positioned in the position shown and may be retracted against the yielding pressure of its associated spring as an article B passes between the roller 92 of such lever and the plate 86.

The label applying device 89 is composed of a block having a tapered free end which is positioned as closely adjacent to the entry end of the belt 87 as is possible so that the label D will be secured to the bottle B immediately after it is attached to the latter. Extending longitudinally through the device 89 is a slot 93 which terminates at its outer end in the apex of the tapered end of such device and is of such width as to enable labels D of the desired size to be fed therethrough. The label is inserted into the entry end of the slot 93 through a guide 94 mounted upon the bracket 88 and through a slot 95 provided in such bracket and aligned with the passageway in such guide 94 and the slot 93. The guide 94 is provided with an adjustably mounted stop guage 96 by which the particular size of label D being used may be properly positioned for adherence to the article B as the latter advances into engagement therewith on the conveyor 85. It will be noted that at the time of the engagement of the article and label, the label will be projecting into the path of travel of the article and slightly below the roller 92, the thermoactivatable coating 99 of adhesive material on the label D facing the line of feed of the article. Like the previously described label units, the device 89 is provided with electrical heating units 9'7 and a thermostat 98. The heater units 97 and motor for the belt 87 may be connected to the main feed lines by a single switch so that both are rendered operative or inoperative simultaneously. The surface 100 of the slot 93 opposed to the adhesive coating 99 is provided with a plurality of air holes 101 that communicate with a reservoir 102 provided in the body of the block of device 89 and suitably connected to a source of fluid pressure. Thus while the label D is located in the passageway or slot 93 and during its feed therethrough, the adhesive coating 99 thereof will be maintained spaced from the wall 109 of such slot by the fluid discharged through the holes or openings 101 in such wall. As a result of this arrangement, the adhesive coated side 99 will be kept from engagement with the heater unit 89 so as not to foul the passageway or slot 93 therethrough. The slot 93 is constructed so that the space between the wall 100 and the slot wall opposing the latter is such as to reduce the air gap to a minimum and thereby to facilitate activation of the adhesive coating by such walls. The fluid used in the unit 89 may be air or steam. While the air will be heated by the unit 89 on its passage therethrough and thereby will help in activating the adhesive coating of 7 the lahe l; it is preferred that steam at a temperature of over 280 F: be used for several reasons; It has been found that steam not only activates the adhesive coating; but causes the paper of the label to stretch temporarily and to be'co'me softened. The advantages of this are that the label will be so conditioned that it will readily take the forin of the container surface to which it is applied and oh drying 'will shrink to such container surface thus making it cling better. As a result the label will be adhered to the container with no air pockets between the label and the container so that all portions of the label will be absolutely flat against the container surface and there will be obtained the ultimate in clinging value of the label on the container. This bpe'ration and the resulting advantages are facilitated by the heat applied by the closely ad-jacelit aforesaid slot walls which heat both sides of the 1am and thereby enable the steam to pe'netratefaster into the paper 'of the lab'el and give it immediate softening and stretch.

It is believed that from the 'aforegoing explanation of the 'co'nstruction of Fig. 4, it will be understood that in are use of this embodiment of the invention, the label D is inserted by the operator through the guide 94 and into the slot passageway '93 as an article B is being fed toward the discharge end of the device 89 by the co'ni eyo'r '85, the bracket 88 being first adjusted on the am 84 to position such device 89 and the pressure roller 92 to provide the proper relation between the particular label and container to be assembled. 'In the making of such adjustments and also in the operation of the machine the bracket 88 will also function as a heat shield to protect the operator. The stop gauge 96 which has pieviously been properly adjusted on the guide 94, will enable the operator to insert the label through the passageway 93 until the advancing end of the label D projects beyond the discharge end of the passageway the proper distance for a satisfactory coaction of the parts. As "the article '13 advances beneath the device 89 the leading edge 'of the label will engage the same and then almost immediately the moving article will raise the ad'- hefed leading end 'of the label into engagement with the spring tensioned roller 92 to enable the latter to progressiv'ely press the -adhered portion or the label to the article. During this operation the arm 91 carrying the roller 92 will be yielding'ly moved out of the path of the conveyor by the article B which is maintained in proper position on the conveyor '85 by the plate 86. The spring controlling arm 91 is a light spring so that the article B will not be shifted on belt 85 during the application of the label thereto. As the article continues its movement past 'the deyice 89, the label will be drawn out of the passageway 93 by the'adhered portion thereof. As the article moves past the roller 92-, the latter will return to its normal advanced position and cause the label to be adhered to the following portion of the article beyond that "diameter thereof at right angles to the direction of travel of the article until the roller has fully advanced to its normal position. By this time the article B will come into engagement with the belt 87, which together with the pla'teilfi, will complete the adhesidnof the label to the article. Due to the close proximity of roller 92 to the belt 87, the roller 92 will cooperate with he1t-87 and plate 86in accomplishing this result until the trailing end of the label D'has moved past such roller. The temper'ature'of the device '89 during these operations is maintainedby the thermostat-98 within a range such that it willcause the laycr99"of adhesivematerialon the label D to*attain'the proper condition for satisfactory "adhesion of thel'abel to the article during the travel of "each portion of the label through the'pass'ageway 93, but without the "danger of charting or'scoiching the "adhesiveoripaper of the label While the label is hot "in motion 'throilgh such 'passageway.

-I t will be understood by those "skilled in the -"ar'-t that while I have described and illustrated p'refrfe'd embodiments 'of the invention, such disclosure is by way of illustrationonly "since many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the inyention. Thus, instead of using thetwo devices 13 and 14 in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, such devices may be replaced by the heating and pressing unit mounted on the bracket 88 in Fig. 4 of the drawings utilizing only one of the supporting structures of Fig. 1. Also a device such as the device 39 of Fig. 4 may be substituted for the device 58' in the construction {of Fig. 3 and in such substitutionthe discharge end of the device 89 should be placed as closely as possible to the entrance end of the belt 45' of Fig. 3 for the reasons previously mentioned. While the embodiments have been explained with reference to hand feed labels, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are readily adaptable to be used with mecha nisms for feeding separate labels from a stack to the label heating devices or with mechanisms for feeding labels from a continuous strip to such devices. Hence, I do not Wish to limit myself strictly tothe disclosure and desire to include any apparatus which comes within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

"1. in a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled, supporting means, movable means mounted on said supporting means for positioning independently of said article supporting means one end of a label in engaging relation with an article on said support and constructed and arranged on said supporting means therefor to be in substantially stationary condition from the time of engagement of such label end with the article until the label is drawn therefrom, means on said positioning means for renderin'g adhesive one side of thelabel s'o positioned by said positioning means to establish an adhesive connection between such label and the article upon the engagement thereof, means operable to move the supported article to be labeled relative to said positioning means to cause such article through its adhesive connection with such end of the label to draw the -label from said positioning means while the latter is in said stationary condition, and means to press the label into position on the article immediately following its attachment to the article'and as the label is being drawn from saidpositioning means said last mentioned means facilitating such drawing action when engaged 'with the label.

'2 In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled, "ine'ans -to position independently of said article supporting means a label at a label applying station so that contact is established between the article 'on said supporting means and one end of such label, saidpositioning means being constructed and arranged to hol'd an 'exrpdse'd end part "of the label at least in an at ie's't condition with relation "to said positioning ineans until the moment eenta s to he inane with "such and 6f th label d th' ft'c e, a suppert, ineans connecting Sara posit ng cans to said support and irlov'a bl'e relative tQ-saiil supper-rte position said positioning means teenable Contact "to be e tablished between the article and such eiiposd 'end 'b'f the labe'l, means on said positioning fii'eaiis for *r'endei'in'g adhesive "brie side of the 1511a so the when "an adhesive eenn euen is established btvifeeil c6iita6tiiig l'ahel and and he article the latter is abted throu h "such adhesive een'nectien to move the label tel are said pastri s-m means tourawtheidbu from the er 'as such article is 'riioved relative to said pos'itidniiig rheaiis, iiieans to press the label iiito position on the ai tic'le iiii diately renewin its -'attachtnent "th the at clean as the label is beiii'g'drawn from *sa idpositionirig means --'and facilitating such drawing action when engaged with the label, and cans 'to move the artile on sa'id 'iir ticle siipp hg iis rel-ativefo saidpbsitiohmeans during apor'ti'o'n at least "of said pressing opefa- 1011.

i '3. lu a labeling nab-tithe, means "to *siippur't "aftiib to be labeled, a labeling device independent of said article supporting means for attaching a label to the article, a support, means connecting said labeling device to said support and movable relative to said support to position said labeling device to enable contact to be established between the article and one end of the label on said labeling device, means to render the label adhesive while on said labeling device to establish an adhesive connection between said label end and the article on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said labeling device and thereby to draw the label from the latter as the article is moved relative to said labeling device, means to press the label into position on the article immediately following its attachment to the article and as the label is being drawn from said labeling device and to facilitate such drawing action when engaged with the label, and means operable to move the article about its longitudinal axis during a part at least of said pressing operation.

4. In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled, a labeling device independent of said article supporting means for attaching a label to the article, a support, means connecting said labeling device to said sup port and movable relative to said support to position said label device to enable contact to be established between the article and one end of the label on said labeling device, means to render the label adhesive while on said labeling device to establish an adhesive connection between said label end and the article on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said labeling device and thereby to draw the label from the latter as the article is moved relative to said labeling device, and means to press the label into position on the article during the attaching thereof to the article and as the label is being drawn from said labeling device and for moving the article about its longitudinal axis during said pressing operation, said last mentioned means facilitating such drawing action when engaged with the label.

5. In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled, a labeling device independent of said article supporting means for attaching a label to the article and having a discharge end, supporting means, means connecting said labeling device to said supporting means and movable relative to the latter to position the discharge end of said labeling device to enable contact to be established between the article and the end portion of the label at such discharge end, means to render the label adhesive while on said labeling device to establish an adhesive connection between such label end portion and the article on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said labeling device and thereby to draw the label from the latter through the discharge end thereof as the article is moved relative to said labeling device, and means for pressing the label into position on the article during such attachment thereof to the article and as the label is being drawn from said labeling device and for moving the article about its longitudinal axis during said pressing operation, said last mentioned means including a movable pressing element having an endless pressing surface and located closely adjacent to the label discharge end of said labeling device and facilitating such drawing action of the label from the labeling device.

6. In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled while such article is being rotated about its longitudinal axis so that the surface thereof to which a label provided with a thermoactivatable adhesive coating is to be applied is moving relative to a labeling device, a labeling device independent of said article supporting means for attaching a label to the article and having a dis charge end, supporting means, means connecting said labeling device to said supporting means and movable relative to the latter to position the discharge end of said labeling device so as to enable contact to be established between the article and the end portion of the label at such discharge end, heating means. to activate the adhesive coating on the label while the label is on said labeling device to establish an adhesive connection between said label end and the article on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said labeling device and thereby to draw the label through the discharge end of the latter as the article moves relative to said labeling device, and means to press the label into position on the article during such attachment to the article and as the label is being drawn from said labeling device, said last mentioned means including a movable pressing element having an endless label pressing surface and located closely adjacent to the discharge end of said labeling device and facilitating such drawing action of the label from the labeling device.

7. In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled while the surface thereof to which a label is to be applied is moving relative to a labelingdevice, a labeling device independent of said article supporting means for attaching a label to the article, a support, means connecting said labeling device to said support and movable relative to said support to bring said labeling device from a retracted position into a position to enable contact to be established between such surface of the moving article and one end of the label on said labeling device, means to render the label adhesive while on said labeling device to establish an adhesive connection between said label end and the moving article on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said labeling device and thereby to draw the label from the latter as the article is moved relative to said labeling device, and means located closely adjacent to said labeling device for immediately pressing the label drawn from such device to the moving surface of the article and facilitating such drawing action of the label from the labeling device.

8. In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled while the surface thereof to which a label is to be applied is moving relative to label applying means, label applying means independent of said article supporting means for applying a label to the article, means supporting said label applying means and being so constructed and arranged that said label applying means yieldingly presses against the surface of the article to which the label is-to be applied, means to render the label adhesive while on said label applying means to establish an adhesive connection between the label and the article surface on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said label applying means and thereby to draw the label from the latter as the article is moved relative to said label applying means, said label applying means being constructed and arranged to progressively press the label drawn therefrom against the relatively moving surface of the article.

9. In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled while the surface thereof to which a label is to be applied is moving relative to label applying means, label applying means independent of said article supporting means for applying a label to the article, said label applying means including a labeling device having a label discharge end and label pressing means located adjacent to such discharge end, means supporting said label applying means and constructed and arranged to be operable to move said label applying means from retracted position into position where the label may be attached to and pressed into position on an article carried by said article support, means to heat a label carried by said label applying means to render the label adhesive coating tacky while the label is on said label applying means to establish an adhesive connection between the label and the .article surface on contact thereof and to enable-the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said label applying means and thereby to draw the label from the latter as the article is moved 11 relative to said label applying means, said label applying means being constructed and arranged to progressively press the label drawn therefrom against the relatively moving surface of the article.

In a labeling machine, means to support an article to be labeled while the surface thereof to which a label is to be applied is moving relative to label applying means, label applying means independent of said article supporting means for applying a label to the article, said label applying means including a labeling device for attaching a label to such article Surface and label pressing means for pressing upon such article surface the label attached thereto by said labeling 'device, supporting means, means connecting said labeling device to said supporting means and movable relative to said supporting means to bring said device from a retracted position into a position to enable contact to be established between such surface of the moving article and the label on said labeling device, means connecting said label pressing means to said supporting means and movable relative to said supporting means to bring said pressing means from a retracted position into a position to press upon such article surface the label being drawn from said labeling device, means to render the label adhesive while on said labeling device to establish an adhesive connection between the label and the article surface on contact thereof and to enable the article through such adhesive connection to move the label relative to said labeling device and thereby to draw the label from the latter as the article is moved relative to said label applying means, said label pressing means being constructed and arranged to progressively press the label drawn from said labeling deviceagainst the relatively moving surface of the article.

11. In a labeling machine, a base, means on said base for supporting an article to be labeled, means operable to move an article on said supporting means, labeling means independent of said article supporting means and including means for rendering adhesive one side of a label to be applied to an article on said supporting means and means for pressing the label with a rolling action in place on such article as such label is being applied by said labeling means, means on said base for supporting said labeling means, means connecting said labeling means to said supporting means therefor and movable relative to the latter to selectively position said labeling means on such supporting means and relative to the article on said article supporting means to enable contact to be establi'shed between the article and one end of the label on said labeling means and to enable the article to draw the label attadhed thereto from said labeling means as the article is being moved, said pressing means facilitating such drawing action by the article, said article supporting means and said supporting and connecting means for said labeling means being constructed and arranged on said base't'h'a't an article of any length may be labeled and may be operatively positioned on and removed from the support therefor without disturbing the setting of said connecting means on the supporting means for said labeling means.

, 12. A labeling machine such as defined in claim 8, in which the means to render the label adhesive comprises a heating device forming part of said label applying meansand having a label passageway extending therethrough, the discharge end of said passageway being located "to "enable one end of a label passed through such passageway to come into engagement with an article on said ar'ticlesupp'ort, and'mean's to direct fluid under pressure against one surface of the label passing through such passageway to maintain such label'sur fa'ce 'in spacedrelatibn' t'o an opposing surface 'of such passageway during the passage of the label thereth'rough,

13. A labeling machine such as defined in claim "4, inw'hich the rneans to render the label adhesive-comprises a heating device forming part of said labeling device and having a label passageway extending therethrough, the discharge end of said passageway being located to enable one end of a label passed through such passageway to come into engagement with an article on said article support, means on one side of said passageway for heating said heating device, and means on the other side of said passageway for directing fluid under pressure against one surface of the label passing through said passageway to maintain such label surface in spaced relation to an opposing surface of said passageway during the passage of the label therethrough.

14. A labeling machine such as defined in claim 1 for applying thermoactivatable adhesive coated labels to articles, in which the means to render the label adhesive is constructed and arranged to heat simultaneously both sides of a label to be applied to the article.

15. A labeling machine such as defined in claim 3 for applying thermoactivatable adhesive coated labels to articles, in which the means to render the label adhesive comprises heating means including a first means to apply radiant heat to "one side of a label to be applied to the article, and a second means for convectively heating the other side of such label, said heating means being so constructed and arranged that the first and second means :11)- ply heat simultaneously to both sides of such label.

16. -A labeling machine such as defined in claim 1, in which said positioning means, means to render the label adhesive, and said pressing means form a unitary labeling means, said means to render the label adhesive comprising a label heating device having-a discharge end, and said pressing means comprising a roller located at the discharge end of said heating device, and in which the supporting means for said unitary labeling means includes means operable to selectively move said labeling means on such supporting means to position the discharge end of said heating device in proper labeling relation relative to the article on said article support, said labeling and supporting means therefor being constructed and arranged that in the proper labeling position of said heating device an article on said article support is enabled to draw a label from the discharge end of said device.

17. A labeling machine such as defined in claim 2 in which the adhesive rendering means on said positioning means comprises a heating device having a label ,passageway extending therethroug h, the discharge end of said passageway being located to-enable an end of a label positioned in such passageway to come into engagement with an article on said article supporting means, and in which said pressing means comprises a movable label pressing element having an endless pressing surface located adjacent to the discharge end of the passageway in said heating device, and in which the means connecting said positioning means to the support therefor, and the latter, are so constructed and arranged that said positioning means maybe selectively moved on said support to position the discharge end of said heating device in proper labe ling relation relative to the article on said article support.

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